Thank you for providing the opportunity to engage in the Strategy for Homes and Thriving Communities consultation. The Strategy paper articulates well the current need for more healthy homes in our hapori whanui. My encouragement is for the strategy to be clearer in the area of preventing Rotorua from again being in the current position. Obviously addressing the current urgent needs is of most importance, however, we must also be intentional in having a strategy that clearly addresses the growing community needs for our tamariki and those wanting to join our community. Our belief is in order to get ahead of the current situation there must be a focus on both the present needs and the projected future requirements. Further, to achieve the set objectives (so as to have an effective strategy) the measures must be such that they overcome the issue of Rotorua being behind in having well-maintained homes. Therefore the measures have to account for both the current needs and the future requirements. With this is mind we make the following observations; The current estimate of the shortfall in housing is 1,500 to 1,750 (according to the strategy paper) and over a 5 year period (2013 – 2018) there was, on average 203.4 houses being built per year in Rotorua. The objectives state, in numbers, the goal of building 50 new papakainga on Maori freehold land within three years. There are an estimated 9000 homes that are poorly maintained with an objective of improving 600 homes per year. Plus 800 free home assessments per year and 350 home improvement plans annually are to be proved for grants and interest free loans. The strategy states one of the measures of the objective to increasing the supply of houses as; “The growth in number of homes being built over five years”. Two main questions come to mind from these observations; 1. Are the measures specific enough to achieve Rotorua having well-maintained homes? 2. Are the measures ambitious enough? This strategy paper is a very good initiative and rightly should be commended. However, it is also our view that more robust and smart measures would aid its success, and that by having more robust and smart measures would create clarity for all stakeholders; policy makers, developers, community, utility providers, etc. We applaud the involvement of the wider community such is being done through the consultation process and trust that feedback such as our will build on the good work already done. To this end we welcome the opportunity to be involved in more specific conversations around how to be part of helping Rotorua meet its housing shortfall and ambitions. It is our belief that the demand for housing is only going to grow given the proposed connectivity with the larger centres north of Rotorua and the move to more people working from home. Being owners of a dairy farm in the Hamurana area, we believe we can make a contribution and are willing to be part of the overall strategy. This along with our involvement in other sectors outside of farming leads us to believe that we can and are willing to help achieve the desired and necessary outcomes in the Strategy for Homes and Thriving Communities within Rotorua. Stuart Milsom Caland Holdings Limited Homes & Thriving Communities Strategy Framework Rangatahi Feedback The nine Rangatahi were engaged with one of our youth organisations; were aged between 12 and 17 years; were Māori with a balance between females and males. The rangatahi spoke of their own experience of homes that were uninsulated, damp, mouldy, drafty, overcrowded, resulting in whānau members being sick. Most spoke of a time when they needed to move in with other whānau after having to leave their home. This was often as a result of not being able to pay the rent and caused significant anxiety for the rangatahi. Rangatahi agreed with the vision, especially about needing “homes” that are safe, healthy and connected to needed services. There is a need for more emergency transitional, temporary transitional and social housing. If this housing is to be placed across our communities, thought needs to be given to how these whānau will be made welcome, will “fit in” and be accepted in the “rich” communities. Support would need to be given to whānau, some whānau don’t know who to ask for help of what help is there. Job creation and employment is important if people have any chance of buying their own home. Thought needs to be given to the role of credit. When young people do get a job/money there is a risk “they will use credit to buy things and then not be able to pay this back”. A bad credit history means you can’t get a loan. Sometimes parents use their children’s credit and if this goes bad the children can’t get a loan. You have a job but still can’t move on. The request was for young people to be given training on how to manage money and credit as early as possible Young people often have a lot of trauma and they take this wherever they live and to their jobs. There needs to be more support for young people to deal with this trauma so they can make positive changes. There is definitely a need to make homes warm, dry , well-maintained and waterproof The rangatahi agreed with the need for assessments and then the need for money to carry out home maintenance and repairs. The money needs to go to the contractors who will do the work instead of to the whānau to make sure it is properly spent. When discussing locality planning, the rangatahi supported any work that makes their communities safer, more connected and with the services and facilities their whānau need. Leigh Richards Strategic Advisor Rotorua Lakes Council Toi Te Ora Public Health PO Box 12060 ROTORUA SOUTH 3045 10 August 2020 Rotorua Lakes Council Private Bag 3029 Rotorua Mail Centre ROTORUA 3046 Submission: He Papakāinga, He Hāpori Taurikura - A Strategy for Homes and Thriving Communities The Lakes District Health Board (Lakes DHB) is responsible for planning, funding and providing health services to the Lakes Region and has a vision of Mauriora (Healthy Communities). Lakes DHB is required by the Public Health and Disability Act 2000 to improve, promote, and protect the health of people and communities; to promote the inclusion and participation in society and independence of people with disabilities; and to reduce health disparities by improving health outcomes for Māori and other population groups. Health care services are important health interventions; their primary purpose is to manage disease, ill-health and trauma at an individual level. The health and wellbeing of a community is strongly influenced by a wide range of influences beyond the health sector. For these reasons, Lakes DHB is committed to working collaboratively with Rotorua Lakes Council and Te Arawa Whānui and welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Te Poupou Rautaki – Homes and Communities Strategic framework. Toi Te Ora1 Public Health (Toi Te Ora) is funded by the Ministry of Health and is the public health unit for Lakes DHB. Our purpose is to improve and protect the health of the population, with a focus on reducing inequalities in health. Toi Te Ora has prepared this submission on behalf of Lakes DHB. Many of the crucial underlying factors that contribute to population health and wellbeing are directly influenced by the decisions and activities of councils. For this reason, Toi Te Ora and Lakes DHB welcome the opportunity to: a. provide feedback to the Rotorua Lakes Council on its proposed housing strategy; and 1 Toi Te Ora represents the ideal of the ultimate and enduring wellbeing. ‘Toi’ is the name of a celebrated ancestor in the Eastern Bay of Plenty and ‘Ora’ is to be alive, well and healthy. b. assist Rotorua Lakes Council to achieve the objectives listed in the plan that relate to public health. The vision, purpose and goals of Toi Te Ora are closely aligned with those of Council. Lakes DHB supports the vision and the intent of Te Poupou Rautaki Homes and Thriving Communities Strategic Framework and acknowledges the partnership approach and consultation to bring the framework this far. Lakes DHB appreciates this opportunity to provide further written feedback. The first part provides feedback on the objectives and the second part focusses on the proposed workplans. Objectives Te Arawa, local and central government are partners in the governance and delivery of this Housing Strategy Lakes DHB supports the collaborative approach with Te Arawa for implementing the strategy, as well as the measures to ensure this happens. Safe emergency housing options that meet differing needs are available for short-term use It is important that any housing, and particularly housing for people in vulnerable situations, is of good quality and is warm and dry. The DHB agrees and supports the objective and the measures for this objective. We support the requirement that emergency housing meets the standard for residential-purpose housing at a minimum. Response actions to emergency situations should not increase the likelihood of poor health. Increase the supply of transitional and social homes and locate through a range of mixed communities Lakes DHB supports increasing the supply of transitional homes and locating the social homes through a range of mixed communities. Lakes DHB recommends the council and Kāinga Ora Homes and Communities consider the evidence reviews from the UK to further develop the Rotorua mixed communities’ approach. Lakes DHB believes that the measure to support locating homes through a range of mixed communities will be insufficient to prevent neighbourhoods of social and transitional homes.